Chapter 9 The enemy's territory (2)

DARIO

I just have to charm my way, and I'll be fine.

Yes, I want to see them crumble down. I want them to ashes. Better yet, I want to see them in pain until they beg for their deaths. But if I act now, that won't do any good. I'll be digging my own grave. Their precious VRE might be going down, but whatever lurks behind their closed doors is something else.

Hugo Vargas is capable of ending my life in a way that nothing would be traced back to him.

So, it's better to stick to the plan. Fidel's words come rushing into my mind. They calm me down once again, and at least this time, I feel better.

I drive through the entrance of the Vargas manor, but the guards don't make it easy for me.

Of course, they wouldn't let me in that easily.

"I need to verify your identity." One of them hisses.

Oh, they don't know who I am?

"Luciana's boyfriend," I say. It's the best thing I can come up with.

Maybe making a joke or making myself laugh could let me put aside the thoughts of wanting to kill them now. They confirm with Luciana and that's how I get in. Nothing could intimidate me more in this house. It's big. I give them that. But it's not big enough to surpass mine. But surely I'm not here to take a survey on whose house is bigger. One of the maids leads me to what I assume is the living room

I just set foot inside the enemy's house.

It doesn't make me feel any different. I still want to burn it down.

"Who do we have here?" A woman's voice snaps me back to reality. I turn to face her.

I know this woman. She looks old enough to be in her mid-fifties. Does she just look like Luciana? Wavy brown hair, brown eyes, and just as curvy as she is. I shouldn't be looking at that, but it's in my line of sight.

Lara Vargas. I've seen pictures of her. I've even followed some of her moves. It's only now that we're seeing eye to eye. She has no idea who I am. If she ever saw me years ago, chances are, I wasn't even a toddler. She doesn't know who she's playing the welcoming act to. And I prefer it that way. For now. I can't break the news to her. Not yet. My plan is still in motion. Slowly. Maybe she would have escaped my wrath if she were guilty by association. But not only is she Hugo Vargas's wife, but also her accomplice. And I'm back for all of them!

"I know what you're about to say. I get that a lot." She says

Do I have any idea of what she's talking about? I must have stared at her for longer than usual, but it's not what she thinks it is. I want to kill her.

I'm not interested in any of her features. I'm interested in destroying her bit by bit. Combined with her husband. Looking at her, it's tempting to walk over and strangle the life out of her.

"All the features come from her mother. Some say her father wasn't involved in her conception." I force out a smile. That's some bullshit story they have been fooling everyone with.

This woman doesn't need to wear a mask, she's a mask herself. No one would imagine the heartlessness behind that smile. And right now, I'm trying all I can to hold it in.

"Enough about my family drama. I got a notification that we had a visitor and I had to check who decided to surprise us today," she yaps as she points out for me to take a seat. "You know, we like to treat our visitors with respect." She adds.

Of course, you do.

Sadly, I'm not in the mood for an interrogation from her. I don't even say anything.

Yet she's spoken a hundred words per minute. She eyes the flowers in my hand. I almost forgot about their existence, even though they have been in my hand all this while.

These are not for you, woman!

"Those are for her, I presume," she says, pointing at them.

"My daughter is lucky tonight," she adds.

"I'd be the lucky one, but she would rather pour hot coffee on me than drink it with me," I say, eyeing the door where Luciana has silently announced her presence with her beauty.

If she was looking pretty yesterday, then she looks even prettier today. She's in a straight black dress with a length slightly above the knee. The dress hugs her so perfectly, revealing her curvy figure. The upper part of it is an off shoulder, revealing her charming skin, that is so evident even though it's not in the daylight. Her dress code is not as sophisticated, but it still gives me the urge to wrap my hands around her.

"I'm sure you're overthinking it. Just look at you. No woman can resist your charm unless she isn't straight."

"Argh, mum," Luciana walks in.

"What? I had to see who was taking you out and welcome him with open arms. What's wrong with that?" asks Lara.

This is not interesting at all. Luciana leads me out of the house as quickly as possible before Lara continues with her ridiculousness.

"I'm sorry about that," she says as soon as we're in my car.

"She's a charmer, though," I tease. Even though the thought of it is nauseating. But it's the pretense that counts.

She shoots me a sharp glare.

"Actually, forget I apologized. You deserve every embarrassment.'' She's already angry, yet the date hasn't even begun. I respond with a grin.

"Jealous? Well, you don't have to be. I'm interested in the offspring, anyway."

Silence.

Okay.

"I haven't even had the chance to give you your flowers." Why does everyone keep forgetting about these poor flowers.?

"I don't like red," she says without even giving them a chance.

"Poor flowers," I say while I throw them in the back seat.

She acts like nothing happened. Anyway, who cares about flowers? I was just trying something new. So this is how ladies respond to flowers, huh?

"So, Luciana."

"Miss Vargas," she corrects me.

"Okay, Miss Luciana Vargas," I say, ignoring her expression.

"Why did you carry such a huge purse? Are we going to rob the hotel or something

?"

"What do you think you're doing, Mr. Morata?" she turns to look at me with her arms still crossed.

"Call me Dario," I say, raising my brow slightly.

"Argh," she rools her eyes.

"Answer me," she demands. This time her tone is more serious than the other times, but I don't give her the benefit of it, anyway.

"What do you mean? What do I think I'm doing? I'm just trying to use both of your names."

"I'm talking about Comfort Real Estate company. Why are you communicating with them?"

"What are you talking about?" I ask.

"Don't play dumb with me, Dario."

She called me Dario again, and it came out sexier than the first time.

But come to think of it. Comfort Real Estate is Vargas Real Estate worst nightmare.

How dare they! Luciana is my woman.

Okay, technically not.

But no one gets to annoy her except me. Just then, a brilliant thought crosses my mind.

I know exactly what to do, and this is going to be fun.

I smile.